The gloves are off in the Conservative Party leadership race as candidate Robert Jenrick fires back at former cabinet minister Michael Gove’s recent ‘Tory boy’ jibe. In a scathing response, Jenrick’s campaign team laid the blame for much of the party’s internal strife squarely at Gove’s feet, accusing him and his “acolytes” of fueling the “drama that has led our party to where it is.”
Gove’s Criticism Sparks Backlash
The war of words erupted after Gove, now editor of The Spectator, suggested in a Today program interview that Jenrick’s ‘Tory boy’ image could hold the Conservatives back. “Given the strength of feeling against Tory boys expressed at the last general election, that’s a challenge,” Gove remarked, while also praising Jenrick’s “diligence, rigour, hunger.”
Jenrick Camp Fires Back
Jenrick’s team wasted no time in hitting back. “Michael Gove and his acolytes have been responsible for so much of the infighting and drama that has led our party to where it is,” a campaign spokesperson declared. “Rob’s going to end that drama and the excuses that followed and just deliver for our country.”
Michael Gove and his acolytes have been responsible for so much of the infighting and drama that has led our party to where it is.
– Spokesperson for Robert Jenrick’s campaign
Gove Backs Badenoch, Stops Short of Endorsement
While Gove had some praise for Jenrick, he was more effusive about his other ‘friend’ in the race, Kemi Badenoch. Gove, who has long been a strong supporter of Badenoch, lauded her “courage” and defended her willingness “to get involved in a scrap.”
However, Gove stopped short of formally endorsing Badenoch, claiming that the Spectator was more interested in backing causes than candidates and that his personal endorsement might prove counterproductive.
Poll Boost for Jenrick
Despite Gove’s barbs, Jenrick received a boost from a new Electoral Calculus poll, which suggested the Tories would fare better under his leadership than Badenoch’s.
- With Jenrick as leader, the Conservatives would win 50 extra seats
- Under Badenoch, the Tories would gain only 30 seats
However, with both candidates relatively unknown to the broader electorate, these projections remain speculative. The performance gap between Jenrick and Badenoch is also within the margin of error, underscoring the uncertainty.
Showdown at the Hustings
As Conservative members begin receiving their ballots, all eyes turn to this evening’s leadership hustings on GB News. While Jenrick and Badenoch won’t face off directly, the event offers a high-stakes opportunity to win over wavering Tory voters.
With the Conservatives still reeling from their resounding general election defeat, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Whoever emerges victorious will face the daunting task of rebuilding a deeply fractured party and mounting a credible challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
As the race enters its final stretch, one thing is certain: the gloves are off, and the Tory leadership contest is set to be a bruising battle to the end.
